BC Ferries Orders Eco Trio

BC Ferries has awarded Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. of Gdansk, Poland contracts totaling $165m to build three new intermediate class vessels.

The total project budget approved is of $237m, including financing and project management costs that would have been incurred regardless of where the vessels were built.

The new intermediate class vessels will be the first vessels in BC Ferries’ fleet to operate as dual-fuel capable using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or diesel fuel for propulsion and power generation.

Two of the new ships will replace the 49-year old Queen of Burnaby, which sails between Comox and Powell River and the 50-year old Queen of Nanaimo, which services the Tsawwassen — Southern Gulf Islands route.

The third vessel will augment peak and shoulder season service on the Southern Gulf Islands route, plus provide refit relief around the fleet. These new 105-metre vessels will accommodate 145 vehicles and 600 passengers.

“As we begin the next phase of our newbuild program, a key objective is to achieve capital and operating cost savings and efficiencies through an overall class and standardization strategy,”said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering.

“Standardization offers greater interoperability and lower crew training and maintenance costs, and also enhances safety. This is a significant step forward in taking BC Ferries from 17 classes of ships to five classes.”

The first new intermediate class vessel is scheduled to arrive in British Columbia in August 2016, the second in October 2016 and the third in February 2017. Remontowa is responsible for delivering the vessels to Victoria.

The first vessel is expected to be in service in the fall of 2016, following extensive crew training and familiarization.

Criteria for shipyard selection included the design and construction plan, recent experience building intermediate ferries, capability of introducing new technology such as LNG, customer satisfaction (references from other customers), delivery schedule, price and payment terms, financial stability and ability to provide guarantees.